Mail-box.



O. E. MARTZLOFF & F. X. MARSHALL.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 9, 1912.

1,052,1 59. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1912. 1,052, 1 59. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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CHARLES E. MARTZLOFF AND FRANK X. MARSHALL, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS 'I'O CLIMAX LOCK AND VENTILATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

MAIL-BOX.

5 the county of Erie and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, ofwhich the folowing is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new storage receptacles, andparticularly to mail boxes of the type that are designed for inventionhas for its primary object a simple, durable and efficient constructionof device of this character which is-composed of comparatively few partsthat may be easily stamped out, shaped and assembled without the use ofrivets, thereby effecting economies in the trade and enabling theboxesto be sold at a relatively low price and yet at a profit.

More specifically considered, the invention has for its object toprovide a mail box with an improved construction of closure for theopening through which the letters or other mail matter are extractedfrom the box and a new and improved construction of finger piecetherefor, which, like the paper holding clip with which the box isprovided, is so constructed that it may be securely heldin place withoutthe use of rivets, and may be easily and quickly applied. And theinvention also aims to generally improve devices of this class and torender them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,arrangements and combinations ofthe parts that we shall hereinafterfully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention referenceis to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a mail box constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal 'vertical sectional view thereof; Fig.3 is a horizontal sectional view, the section being taken on the line 33of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view of the sheet metal blank out of which areformed the front, sides, bottom and top of the box. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed.April 9, 1912. Serial No. 689,502.

and useful improvements in collectionand of the sliding closure for theopening in the front of the box through which the letters or like mattermay be extracted and Fig. is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Flg. 2looking in the direction of the arrow.

Our improved mail box includes a sheet metal back 1 which is formed atany desired polnt with openings -to receive fastening devices wherebythe box may be suspended at the desired place, one of said openings be-I l ing shown in Fig. 2 and designated 2. The dlvidual or house holdersuse and the mfront, sides, bottom and top of the box are 1n the presentembodiment of the invention formed of a single blank of sheet metalstamped in the shape illustrated in Fig.- 4, and subsequently bent tothe shape illus- Patented Feb. 4,1913.

trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 3 designating the I front of the box, 4: thesides thereof, -5 the bottom and the top.- These parts are formed ontheir margins with integral tangs 7 that are designed to be passedthrough perforations formed in the back 1 at or within the marginsthereof, the tangs being then clenched upon the rear face of the back 1as best illustrated in Fig. 2. By this means the back may be quickly andeasily secured to the other main part of the box,

.without the use of rivets and a rigid and strong structure produced.

The top 6 of the box is formed with a transversely extending slot 8 madein such shape, as best illustrated in Fig. 4, that when the metaldefining one side edge of said slotis bent inwardly, as illustrated inFig. 2, to form a lip 9, the opposite'w'alls of said slot willbetoothed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. To stiffen the ends of the slotthe top 6 is formed with integral and angularly disposed flanges 10which are bent downward, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2' and as alsoshown in Fig. 6. The front 3 is formed near its lower end with a pref--erably rectangular opening 11 which is designed for the pur ose ofremoving the mail matterand which is adapted to be closed by a slidingclosure 12 which is in the form of a transversely bowed sheet metalplate with wardly upon themselves ments. Preferably, the lower edge ofthe closure 12 is bent slightly outward as indicated at'14, whereby whenthe opening 11 is closed, said edge will extend slightly out over thelower edge of said opening and se cure a proper joint. Preferably also,the edges 15 of the sheet metal blank which initially define the opening12 are curled inso as to thus reinforce and stiffen the box at thispoint.

In order that the closure 12 may be easily raised, it is provided withan outstanding finger piece 16 which is formed with an attaching shank17 adapted to be slipped upwardlythrough a strap formed by slots 18 inthe front of the closure near the lower edge thereof. 'The shank 17 isheld securely in position without the use of rivets b means of theoutturned edge 14 which engages the lower end of the shank where itjoins the finger piece 16 and thus prevents any downward movement of theshank, and

a bulge or protuberance 19 which is formed in the front of the closureand which engages the upper edge of the shank so as to prevent anyupward movement thereof. Above the opening 11 in the front 3, a paperholding clip 20 is secured to the front of the box. This clip ispreferably c0mposed of spring metal and is slipped upwardly through theslots 21 that correspond in function to the slots 18 before mentioned,the front of the box being formed with bulges or protuberances 22 oneabove the other as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to engage the upperand lower ends of the shank or attaching portion 23 of the clip, wherebysaid clip, like the handle or finger piece of the closure 12 is securelyheld in position without the use of rivets or similar fastening devices.

The back plate 1 is extended upwardly as indicated at 240 and to thisupward extension the lid or cover 25 is hinged, the same beingpreferably flanged as indicated at 26 so as to extend in closed positiondown around the top 6 and thus protect the contents of the box fromrain, snow, or the like.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the operation of our improved mail box will be apparent. Inthe practical use of the device, the letters or similar mail matter areinserted into the box through the slot 8, while the papers or similarmail matter are inserted in' and securely held by the clip 20. In orderto remove the contents of the box, it is only necessary to raisethe-closure 12.

It will thus be seen that we have provided an extremely simple mail box,the parts of which can be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled, norivets being used in the construction of the box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A receptacle of the character described provided with a dischargeopening, a sliding closure therefor formed with slots pro ducing a strapand having an angularly disposed lower edge contiguous to said slots,said edge protruding outwardly and adapted to overlie the lower edge ofthe discharge opening when the closure is in a closed position, and afinger piece provided with a shank extending upwardly through said slotsand engaged at its lower end by said edge, for the purpose specified.

2. A receptacle of the character described, provided with a dischargeopening, a closure therefor, formed with an outwardly projectingangularly disposed edge and with slots contiguous to said edge, and afinger piece provided with an attaching shank extending through saidslots and engaging at one end said edge of the closure whereby toprevent the downward displacement of the finger piece, the closure beingformed with an outward bulge engaging the upper edge of the shankwhereby to prevent the upward displacement of the finger piece.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES E. MARTZLOFF. FRANK X. MARSHALL. Witnesses:

GODFREY M. FROHE, FRANCIS M. FRIEL.

